Allegro, andante, and adagio explained
Three little Italian words decide how fast your whole piece moves. Get a feel for allegro, andante, and adagio and you'll know the right speed before you play a single note.
A tempo marking usually sits at the very top of a piece and tells you how fast the beat goes. Three of the most common are adagio (slow), andante (moderate), and allegro (fast). Knowing where each one sits — and roughly how many beats per minute it suggests — keeps you from playing a gentle piece like a race or a lively one like a dirge.
Learn it by playing
Tempo only makes sense when your beat is steady. Our free arcade keeps your timing sharp in quick rounds — keep this guide open and jump in whenever.
The three in order, slow to fast
- Adagio — slow and restful
- Andante — a moderate walking pace
- Allegro — fast and lively
If you remember nothing else, remember that order. Now let's look at each one.
Adagio: slow and expressive
Adagio (say "uh-DAH-jee-oh") means slow, at ease. It's the tempo of calm, singing, expressive music — think a tender slow movement in a sonata or a reflective ballad. Roughly 66–76 beats per minute, though it varies widely.
Playing adagio well isn't just about being slow; it's about keeping the beat steady across long notes, which is harder than it sounds. Beginners tend to rush slow passages because the gaps feel uncomfortable. Counting the beats inside each long note keeps you honest.
Andante: a comfortable walking pace
Andante (say "ahn-DAHN-tay") literally relates to walking in Italian — and that's the perfect mental image. It's an easy, flowing pace that feels natural, neither rushed nor dragging. Roughly 76–108 beats per minute.
Because it's a moderate middle ground, andante is one of the most flexible markings; composers often add words to it, like andante con moto ("walking, with motion," i.e., a touch quicker) or andantino (usually slightly faster than andante).
Allegro: fast and lively
Allegro (say "uh-LEH-groh") means fast and lively — and in Italian it also carries a sense of cheerful. It's the bright, energetic tempo of many opening movements and upbeat tunes. Roughly 120–156 beats per minute.
Allegro is where steady subdivision pays off: at a quick tempo, sloppy timing in the small notes shows immediately. Lock the pulse first, then let the energy come from clean rhythm rather than rushing.
BPM ranges are guidelines, not laws
Those beats-per-minute numbers are rough ranges, not exact rules. Italian tempo words describe a feel, and the right speed depends on the style, the historical period, and the character of the piece. A Baroque allegro and a Romantic allegro can sit at different speeds. When a composer wants an exact tempo, they'll add a metronome marking like ♩ = 120.
How to set the right tempo
- Read the marking first. Before playing, decide roughly how fast adagio/andante/allegro should feel for this piece.
- Use a metronome. Set it to a BPM in the right range and internalize the pulse before you add notes.
- Practice slower than the goal. Learn the notes at a comfortable speed, then raise the tempo gradually until you reach the marking.
- Keep subdivisions even. A steady inner beat is what makes any tempo — fast or slow — sound controlled.
Rhythm Match
Tempo only sounds right over a steady beat. Drill note values and rhythm symbols in quick rounds so your inner pulse stays rock solid at any speed.
Frequently asked questions
What does allegro mean?
Allegro means fast and lively. It's one of the most common tempo markings and usually falls around 120 to 156 beats per minute, though the exact speed depends on the piece.
Is andante faster or slower than adagio?
Andante is faster than adagio. Adagio is a slow, restful tempo, while andante is a moderate walking pace. From slow to fast the order is adagio, andante, allegro.
Are tempo markings exact speeds?
No. Italian tempo words describe a feel and a rough range, not a fixed number. The BPM values you see are guidelines, and the right tempo can vary with the style, period, and character of the music.
Keep learning: Note values & rests · Read the treble clef · all guides · more articles